...home from work after an earthquake. I think it does something to people's heads and makes them especially dangerous behind the wheel.

We had an earthquake here around 11:45am this morning so by the time I got off work at 4:30pm I really didn't even think about it. I was riding one of my most valued possessions and the other is under warranty (my camera) so I took to the road with little worry. Anyway, I had to contend with many close calls from people yacking on cell phones (even though it's illegal here), potential right hooks from people who had just past me moments earlier, and drivers cutting me off just to get into a line of cars where I would end up passing them anyway. Needless to say it was definitely a day for defensive riding.

The last mile and a half of my ride is a dirt trail with no traffic. I can honestly say that I have never been so happy to ride that trail as I was today.

I didn't hear anything about it after a couple of hours either other than from patients, but i think it was a different story when i got on the road. I am speculating on the situation centering around the earthquake since I didn't ask anyone who cut me off what they were thinking at that moment. I commute the same route five days a week and can tell you just about every uneven surface, potential problem spot with cars, etc, etc...

99% of my rides are uneventful so it would seem strange to me that I would have more problems in one day in such variation that I have had for the entire year. Plus, people in LA are tougher than people in coastal OC, it would take at least a Whittier size quake to get anyone up there to even take notice.